No Satisfaction

A short drama originally written for a sermon series titled "Got Satisfaction?" This monologue explores a woman's search for meaning and fulfillment in life, contrasting dissatisfaction with true contentment, inspired by the biblical story of the Woman at the Well.

Run-Time: 5 minutes

Biblical Reference: John 4:1-26 (The Woman at the Well)

Cast: 1 female (appears to have been married for 20 years)

Costumes:

• Modern-day attire.
• She can be fully dressed or in a housecoat (nothing comical like curlers).

Props:

• Kitchen table and chairs.
• Morning newspaper.
• Dishes and a dish rag for cleaning.
• A stack of mail, including a brochure for “hungry children.”

Sample Script

(Actor enters, yelling offstage as if through the back door, holding the “door” open.)

Actor:
Jimmy, get out of that mud—here’s the bus… don’t you look at me that way!

(Turns around with a handful of mail she has just retrieved from right out the door or off the floor.)

Kids! Why did I become a mother?

(Starts walking “into” the kitchen and notices the mess. Rolls eyes, puts hands up in an exasperated, giving-up motion.)

(Exasperatedly, turning into sarcasm.)
When people ask what I do—I never know what to answer.
It’s hard to give any answer when you’re embarrassed by what you do… or better yet… don’t do.

I’m not noble since I don’t teach…
I’m not smart if I don’t have a degree…
I’m not motivated if I don’t work for a high-power company—or have been promoted for the third time in as many years.

(Deflated, self-consciously.)
Then I get to wondering what I am—what I do.

I survive.

Somehow… some way… I survive.

Being married—being a wife—a mom—a daughter—an employee... (extra pause) ...a student these days.

I’m trying for that “smart” label.

Not that going to school will give me a higher IQ—but at least I will have done the sensible thing.

(Mimicking.) "Get a degree I can use to get a better job."

The thing is… (hesitantly) … I’m not surviving very well.

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